March 18, 2013 - 13 weeks pregnant
"JFK Terminal 2, please" Beth hopped in the back of the cab while the driver loaded her suitcase into the trunk. Normally she was a public transport kind of gal but with everything being charged to the corporate credit card she was treating herself. Not to mention the subway had a tendency to make her nauseous, things were getting better as she settled into her second trimester but it wasn't worth risking. She pulled out her phone and decided to call her boyfriend before she was tied up at airport security. He answered on the second ring.
"Hey you."
"Hey! Do you have a minute to talk or are you busy with work."
"I can take a break for a few minutes. Reid will probably work faster without me bugging him anyway. Are you at the airport?"
"In the cab on the way there. Just wanted to check in with you before I'm a mile high in the sky. What city are you currently in?"
"Baltimore, actually. Not nearly as fun as Milan."
"Ha if I was there for anything except work I would agree with you. And I won't even be able to enjoy the wine so really, what's the point in even going?"
Aaron laughed. "Well I guess we'll have to go back to Italy together another time. And drink all the wine."
"Mm that sounds lovely. I'm going to take you up on that Hotchner."
Hotch's phone started to buzz and Emily was calling him. She was out in the field with Morgan and he needed to take the call. "Beth, I'm so sorry but I have to get back to work. Please text me when you land and be safe, okay? I love you."
"Love you too. Bye."
Hotch quickly snapped himself back into FBI mode for Emily but truth be told his mind was still with Beth. He had only seen her one other weekend since she had told them they were having a baby. She had come to DC to look at houses with him and they had even put in an offer on one. They were still in the negotiation phase but would hopefully be closing in a couple of weeks, when Beth came back to DC for good. He didn't love the idea of his pregnant girlfriend flying across the ocean without him but he knew Beth's devotion to her job ran deep and she wanted to end on a strong note. She only had one more week after coming home from Italy and then she was done. Hotch pushed the thoughts of Beth and the little baby she was incubating aside for now, with any luck they'd wrap the case up and be home by tomorrow.
March 21, 2013
Hotch was annoyed. He had fallen asleep on his office couch after coming home from Maryland and before he had even had the chance to go home and see his son they were already being summoned to a different city. He had to call in the team. Again. He knew they would be just as annoyed as he was, the only difference would be that he wasn't allowed to show it. His stomach hurt. It didn't feel like acid reflux but he took tums anyway and started calling Garcia.
He listened as his team discussed the case at the round table trying to ignore the increasing pain. His vision started to blur and darken. He could barely breathe the pain in his abdomen was becoming so extreme. He could barely hear himself utter the words "excuse me" before everything went black and he fell to the floor.
Hotch felt a dull ache in his stomach. The familiar ache of having your insides torn apart and then attempted to be pieced back together then have all the savagery masked with medications like morphine. He could hear the beeping of the monitors. He could smell the antiseptic. He didn't need to see to know he was in a hospital but he could also hear the familiar clicking of a keyboard. He turned his head toward the noise and opened his eyes to see who it was. Hotch was comforted to see Garcia sitting in the chair next to his bed working away.
"What happened?" Hotch asked. His throat scratchy.
Garcia jumped up. "Oh my god. You're awake. Oh my god oh my god oh my god. Sir, you had us all so worried."
"Penelope. What happened?"
"Your scar tissue, sir. From the stab wounds. Something with the adhesions and tearing and bleeding. What's important is that they were able to do surgery and fix it."
"Good. That's good. And Jack? Is he okay?"
"Jack's fine. He's with your sister in law. She didn't want to bring him until you were awake, sir."
"Thanks Garcia. Do you have my phone?"
"Yes sir. It's right here" Garcia handed him his phone. "We called Beth but it was almost midnight in Milan so she didn't answer. It's almost 6 AM now though so hopefully she'll be up soon and she'll get my messages."
"Don't worry about it Garcia. I'll call her. If you wouldn't mind checking in with the team and reporting back to me?"
"Of course. Of course." Garcia gathered up her computer and exited the hospital room, giving Hotch his privacy as he made the phone calls.
Hotch made the decision to call Jessica first. He didn't want to wake his pregnant sleeping girlfriend if he didn't have to.
The phone rang and Jessica answered. She was glad to hear that Hotch was awake and she happily put Jack on the phone.
"Hi Dad"
"Hey buddy, I miss you."
"I miss you too Dad. Are you okay? Aunt Jessie said you were hurt and you had to go to the hospital?
"I did buddy but they fixed me and I'm gonna be all better soon. I just have to stay in the hospital for a couple of days but you can come visit me. And then we can go home together. Does that sound okay, Jack."
"Yeah that okay, Dad"
Hotch heard a knock and looked up. Penelope was standing in the doorway holding her phone. She mouthed "Beth" to him and he nodded.
"Hey buddy, I have to go. I just wanted to call and let you know that I'm okay, and that I love and miss you. But you'll come visit me tonight."
"Love you too. Bye dad.
"Bye bud."
Hotch ended the call and reached out for Garcia's phone. She once again stepped out of the room so he could have his privacy.
"Hey" he said cautiously into the phone.
"Aaron, what happened?! I woke up to a million texts and calls from Penelope and David saying that you collapsed. That you had to be rushed into surgery. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, babe, I promise. There was a complication from the stab wounds, I still have to talk to the doctor to get the whole picture but the surgery went well and I'm going to be okay. I'm sorry that I worried you."
"You had to be rushed into emergency surgery and you're apologizing to me?!" Beth let out an exasperated laugh. "I need to come home. I'll call my boss and let her know I need to cut the trip short and I'm coming back to DC."
"Beth, you don't need to do that. I'm fine. Finish what you're there for and I'll see you when you move home in a week and a half."
"Bullshit Aaron. There is no way I'm letting you lie in a hospital bed while I'm halfway across the world. I'm catching the first flight out of here and I'll finish what I can remotely. But then I'm done. I'm only going back to NYC to pack up my stuff and I'll worry about that once you're back on your feet.
Hotch didn't argue with her. Secretly he was really happy he was seeing her sooner than planned but he wished it wasn't under these circumstances. "Okay just please be safe. I'm not going anywhere. Text me your flight plans and I'll be eagerly awaiting your arrival."
"I love you too much for these shenanigans, Aaron Hotchner. No more scares. I almost had a heart attack waking up to those messages."
"Please no heart attacks. I'm fine. I promise. How are you?" Beth knew what he meant. He wanted to know about the baby but they still hadn't told the team so in case Garcia was in ear shot he wanted to be subtle.
"We're good. No nausea attacks this trip. Second trimester is feeling goooood, Hotchner. Poor time for you to be on the mend, my libido has skyrocketed since the nausea went away."
"Well I don't plan on being incapacitated forever my love."
"Mm good news for the both of us then."
"Beth, the doctor is walking in, I'll talk to you later? Keep me updated on your flights."
"I will. I love you."
"Love you too."
Hotch talked with the doctors. Things went well and his prognosis was promising. Lay low for a couple of weeks and then he can resume life as normal. Jack came to visit and they read Harry Potter and ordered ice cream from the cafeteria. His nurses made sure his pain was well controlled and that he was getting up and walking enough. Overall the day went by fast despite missing Beth and by the time Jack left he was exhausted. His phone buzzed and he read the text from Beth.
*Just landed in London. Flying back into DC from here and should be with you by 9 AM. Love you, get some rest."
*Planning on going to bed now. See you in the morning. Love you both.*
Hotch laid the phone on the bedside table and turned off the light above his bed. His abdomen still provided him with sharp shooting pain anytime he moved the wrong way but eventually exhaustion won out and he drifted to sleep.
It was a restless night. Hospitals weren't exactly quiet. Or dark. And the pain in his abdomen waxed and waned but he was able to get spots of sleep here and there. Shortly after 7 AM he got the text he had been waiting for.
*Plane just landed in DC. As soon as I can get my bag and a taxi I'm headed your way Hotchner.*
*Can't wait. I'll put on my best gown for the occasion.*
*I'm a lucky girl*
Hotch's phone started ringing and it was Jessie.
"Jessica, hi."
"Hey Aaron, sorry to bother you. Jack's just having a hard time with the idea of going to school today. I think seeing you in the hospital shook him up more than he let on. Any chance you have time to talk to him?"
"Of course, put him on."
"Hi, Daddy."
"Hey buddy. Are you getting ready for school?"
"I don't want to go to school, Dad. I want to come visit you in the hospital."
Hotch could hear his boy getting emotional. He knew he was trying not to cry. Hotch felt conflicted about what to do.
"You know what though, Jack. Today is Friday. So you only have to make it through today and then we can spend all weekend together. And Beth will be here too. So even if I have to spend the night in the hospital again you can go home with Beth and sleep in your room."
"I miss you Dad and I'm scared that you're going to go away to heaven like mom."
Hotch could feel his heart break and his son said those words.
"I promise that's not what's going to happen, buddy. Tell you what, you can miss school just for today. You can hang out with me and Beth at the hospital but it might be kind of boring."
"That's okay, dad. I don't mind being bored."
"Okay bud, can you put Aunt Jessie back on the phone?"
"Hey, so what's the plan?"
"I'm sorry Jessie, would you mind bringing him here and staying until Beth arrives? She shouldn't be too long, Jack isn't allowed to stay without another adult present."
"Of course, it's no problem Aaron."
Twenty minutes later Jack and Jessie knocked and came into his room. Jack ran up to his dad and Aaron pulled him up onto the bed with him, mindful of his IV and incisions. Jessie set Jack's bag down on the chair.
"I packed his book and some other things for him to do in there in case he gets bored. There's also snacks and his water bottle."
"Thanks so much, Jessica."
"Can we watch cartoons, Dad?"
"Of course, bud." Hotch turned on the hospital TV and found Spongebob for Jack. Jack settled in next to his father and Hotch closed his eyes and enjoyed being close to his son.
He must have dozed off because the next thing he heard was his son exclaiming "Beth!". Hotch opened his eyes and found his girlfriend in the doorway of his hospital room luggage in tow.
"Jack!" Beth put her stuff down and came to them. She hugged them both at once, careful to not touch anything important. "It's so good to see you guys." She kissed Jack's cheek and then looked up and kissed Aaron on the lips.
"Dad let me miss school today so I could see him and we're watching spongebob!"
"I see that! That sounds like a perfect Friday."
"Jack why don't we run down to the cafeteria and grab a coffee for Beth?"
Jack nodded and hopped out of his father's hospital bed. Beth glanced at Jessie and smiled in appreciation. Jessie had always been very kind to Beth but she'd be lying if she said she wasn't nervous about telling her about the pregnancy. They hadn't told anyone yet, not even Jack.
Jack and Jessie closed the door behind them and Beth sat on the bed facing Hotch.
"You had me worried, Hotchner"
"I know, I'm sorry."
Aaron reached out a hand and cupped her face. "C'mere"
Beth leaned in and they shared a longer kiss. He placed his forehead against hers "Thank you for coming back."
"Staying was never even an option I considered."
"I love you." Hotch placed a hand over her belly. "Both of you."
Beth giggled. "Sorry inform you but baby is pretty much still way down here". She moved his hand down towards her pelvis."
"Fair enough" Hotch laughed.
"We need to tell people soon. I like being in our bubble but if we keep being sneaky about it we're just going to get caught. I'd rather we tell people on our own terms."
"I agree. I want us to tell Jack first, but we'll need to tell everyone else soon after because if there's one thing 7 year olds suck at it's keeping secrets."
"When you get to come home? We can tell him about the baby. And about the house. It's gonna be a lot of change for a little kid, Aaron."
"Unfortunately he's handled worse. He'll be okay. He really loves you Beth, he'll be excited that you're going to be around even when I'm not. As far as the baby goes, we'll just have to see how it goes but I can't imagine him being a bad big brother."
"No, definitely not a bad big brother. How do you plan on telling the team?"
"One hurdle at a time, please" Aaron blushed.
Beth giggled. "You act like you're some teenage boy who is terrified to tell his parents that he got the neighbor girl pregnant. We're adults, Aaron. I'm sure they were well aware that we have sex."
"I prefer to assume that they don't think about my sex life at all."
"You're not ashamed are you? I know this wasn't planned but are you embarrassed? That at 42 years old you're knocking up your girlfriend?"
Beth's tone was light but he could sense her worry and could sense her feelings starting to get hurt. She wasn't usually very sensitive but he figured hormones, worry, and sleep deprivation were probably getting the better of her today.
"I'm absolutely not embarrassed. I am very excited about our baby. I'm just not used to making announcements to the team that are personal in nature but I would love if you could be there when we tell them."
Beth nodded and hugged him, feeling a bit teary.
"We got you coffee Beth!" Jack and Jessie walked back into the room. Beth released Hotch and wiped her eyes.
"Thank you so much, Jack! Here let me move so you can sit back up with your dad." Beth got off the bed and picked Jack up to set him next to his dad.
"I'm going to head out. Call me if you need anything, Aaron."
They all said their goodbyes to Aunt Jessie. Hotch relished this time with just his son and his girlfriend. He found it hard to believe that soon this would be the norm, always coming home to them. The day passed as blissfully as it could in a hospital room. Jack watched cartoons and colored pictures. Beth worked from her laptop and read to Jack occasionally giving Hotch little smiles. He was disappointed when the doctor came in and let him know he would be staying another night but would most likely be able to go home in the morning. Soon it was early evening and Beth was getting ready to take Jack home to feed him dinner and put him to bed, it was her first night alone with Jack.
"There's plenty of food in the fridge and the pantry. He can have whatever just don't let him sucker you into ice cream before bed because then he can't fall asleep. Bedtime is at 8 but it's okay if it's closer to 9 since it's a weekend. He's watched enough TV today but if he wants to read in bed that's okay. Am I forgetting to tell you anything? Do you have any questions?"
"Relax Hotchner. I've spent nights with him, granted you always did most of the work but I know his routine. We'll be fine. You just worry about getting enough rest so we can take you home in the morning."
"I'm sorry you're right. Jack you listen to whatever Beth says okay. Now come give me a hug goodnight."
"Night, dad. See you tomorrow"
"Goodnight buddy, I love you." Hotch kissed his son's head. He looked up at Beth "I love you too."
Beth leaned down to Hotch's level on the bed and kissed his forehead. "I love you. See you in the morning."
Hotch watched as Jack took Beth's hand and they left him alone in his hospital room. Hotch couldn't wait to be discharged and be able to sleep in his own bed with Beth and his son down the hall. And as much as it scared him, he also couldn't wait to start telling his friends and family that soon he would be a father of two.
Okay fully aware that Hotch's collapse on the show doesn't really line up with my timeline in this story but whatever… creative liberty and all that.
